SAN FRANCISCO – Do the Padres have a secret treasure chest stuffed with gold?
A few veteran players have said that if the club wants to spend aggressively, it could do so this summer. The Opening Day payroll of $58 million to $60 million is down 10-20 percent from last year, depending on how one adds it up.
The Padres' payroll ranks 24th among the 30 teams in the majors, well below the team's revenue ranking. The Padres are a midrevenue franchise; according to estimates by Forbes magazine last year – disputed by the commissioner's office – the Padres ranked 15th of 30 in revenue at $158 million.
General Manager Kevin Towers said the club once again has “contingency funds” that would allow it to increase the payroll this summer, when outfielders such as Ichiro Suzuki – a Towers favorite – Andruw Jones and Torii Hunter could be on the trade block if their teams are out of playoff contention.
But Towers said the public payroll ranking is “a little deceiving.” He cited performance bonuses the club expects to pay, including about $4 million to pitcher David Wells should he make at least 27 starts. “When it's said and done, we'll probably end up close to $70 million,” Towers said.
The Padres expect to set a franchise record for spending on amateurs this year. In addition to having seven extra draft picks, the club is prepared to offer a seven-figure sum to pitcher Matt Latos, the Padres' 11th-round draft pick last June who is pitching for a community college in Florida.
“He's pretty special,” Towers said of the right-hander, whose fastball has been clocked in the high 90s. “We may spend close to $10 million in the amateur draft.”
No. 42 for Cameron
When the Padres play at Dodger Stadium on April 15, center fielder Mike Cameron will wear No. 42 to honor Jackie Robinson as baseball celebrates the 60th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier.
The Dodgers said last night that all of their players will wear No. 42 in that game.
Cameron said he probably will wear baggy pants to further honor Robinson. “He laid the groundwork for me to get a chance to get out here and show my talent and be able to help this club,” Cameron said.
Aware that the percentage of African-Americans on major league rosters has gone from 27 percent in 1975 to under 10 percent today, Cameron is alarmed that “brothers are (nearly) extinct in the game.” Cameron, who plans to pay for youth groups to attend Padres games this year, said he finds it strange that black players such as Matt Lawton can't find a bench job.
Cameron played football and basketball as a youth in Georgia. He preferred baseball, a sport that he recommends to kids, with one caveat: “There's got to be passion for it.”
Notes
Towers said “there's momentum” to contract talks with Cameron's agent. Cameron, who is seeking a three-year extension, can become a free agent in November. Said Cameron: “I'm at peace with whatever they decide to do. If it's not up to their standpoint, hey, turn the page, man.”
Reliever Scott Strickland, who cleared waivers last week, will join the Padres' Triple-A Portland bullpen for tonight's opener.
Jake Peavy became only the second Padre to win consecutive Opening Day starts. The first was Clay Kirby in 1972-73.
Tom Krasovic: (619) 293-2207; tom.krasovic@uniontrib.com
